Fluid-pressure regulator



March v29, 1927.

F. H. vlEfrs FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 6. 1925 IVENTOR. F/oyd H. Vier:

ATTORNEY March 29, `1927.A 1,622,689

F. H. vuaTs FLUID PRESSURE REGULATQR Filed July e, 1925 s sheets-sheet 2"v ATTORNEY f` M r h 9 1 'a c 2 927 F. H. vlETs FLUlD PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Juvly e, 1925 sheets- Sheet A TTORNEY.

. 4 .i 'l at anytime while the deviceV is in operation.

Y, within certain limits are Parentalv Mai. 29.1921.

MPA1.62m!) PATENT oEFicE.

' non) n. vn'ns, or mama, camoimmas'srexon ro m'rmarioxu. rml- (IDITATION conm, QI 10m REGULATOR.

Appunti nea .my e, 1an. sei-m n. une.

This invention'relates to the tion of the pressure-in a flue through which a fluid -is -paing or in a chamber in which a fluid is beingY confined and themain object of 'the invention. is to provide a more efficient meansA of regulation for this purpose. 'The main feature ofmy invention contemplates the use of a regulator in connection "with a damper or other ow contro device situated in a ilue or p thro which va liuid is being pum or driven by a fan or blower or other uid moving device, and an important object of the invention `is to provide means wherebyv large changes in pressure are eli'ected by changing the of the fan or fluid moving device while smaller charges in pressure ve ected by operation of thel damper or flow-controlling device under control of the regulator. In this manner the fan is permitted-to operateat thev highest efficiency, since it is automati-` 'cally caused to Vslowdown when the load lightens and to speed up again when the load increases. A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the damper or other flow-controlling device is enabled to correct small variations' in 'the pressure by movement thereof throughout l a certain zone and whereby, when `either limit of this Izone oftravl of the flowcontrolling device is reached, any further 'us5 gd'esiredgchange in pressure, thus permitting Y the flow-controlling device to always remain requirement in correction'of pressure will -.cause the speed of the luld moving device to, be automatically changed to effect the inthe prescribed zone of travel thereofand preventing the same vfrom being moved either '.towide open position or to full closed position A further object of the invention is to provide, inconnection with lan electrically operated regulator, means whereby failure of the electric currentfiu the supply circuits for .the regulator will cause the damper to I' automatically be brought to wide open posi- 'l current the damper will fautomatically be restored to normal operation under the iniluence of the regulator.

vment of the damper, parts being shown in illustrate The accompany g embodiments of myniziivention and referring thereto:

Fig. v-1 is a plm view 'of the mgulmr ma flow-controlling the flue showni in section.

' Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. I.1, also allowing part of -the the wiring therefor.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section thro commutatorlfor controlling the operation of the speed control mechanism 'for the fan motor.

motor therefor, but with parts of the r omitted. v

Fig. 7 is a plan view of of the mechanism for'trlpp'mg and e ting section.

Fig. 9 is a detail elevationof the releas- Fig. 8Y is a side elevation of the parte. 'shown in Fig. 7. Y

Los-ananls, canrlonlu, a conronanor or cauing means for the damper tripping mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the clutch means between the regulator and Y the damper, and adjacentparts. g

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on line 11 11 in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a wiringjdiagram` showing the opera-ting land controlling circuits for the electrlcal regulator.

Fig. 13 is a. diagrammatic view showing certain .positions of someJol the electrical icontact means shown in Fig. 12.

Fig-14 .is a wiring diagram for a modifiedform of electrically operated regulator in connection-with the inventionl Fig. 15 is a 'semi-diagrammatic vertical section showing the application of a. mechanically operated regulator in connection with mi nvention.` l

Fig. `16-is a vertical` section of the valve means shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on line I7- 17 in Fig. .15.

,F.lg. 18 1s a wiring diagram showing the electrical`control means for the mechanically operated regulator. I

Referring first to Fig. 6 the apparatus there shown comprises a flue 1, a fan or other fluid moving device 2, provided with an electric driving motorv 3, the. gas or fluid to be driven by the fan being supplied thereto for example through flue 4. Within the flue 1 and adapted to control the passage of the fluid therethrough is located a. damper or other flow-controlling device 6 and I have Shown the regulating apparatus as adapted to maintain a constant or desired pressure at a point 7 in the flue just beyond such dam er, although it will be understood that the evice may be used for maintaining any desired pressure at any point in the flue beyond suclrdamper or any point-in a chamber or other apparatus in Which such flue discharges. A

For effecting the operation of the damper under the influence of the pressure at the point 7, any suitable type of regulator may b e employed but I prefer in most cases to use an electrically operated regulator since the use of electrical control means greatly simplifies the entire construction for this purpose. Any of the Well-knovvn types of electrically operated fluid pressure regulators may be employed, but I have shown in the preferred form' of my invention a regulator-of the type described in the patent to J. H. Reineke, No. 1,480,837, dated January 15. 1924, reference being had to said patent for a detailed description of the construction -and operation of such regulator. Said regulator comprises a pair of electric motors 9 and 10 connected to an electrical supply circuit 11. Said motors operate through differential gear means in gear box indicated at 12, which are in turn connected by gearing to the operating shaft 13. The arrangement of the differential gearing is such that When the motors 9 and 10 are rotating at equal speeds shaft 13 is stationary but an increase in the speed of one of said motors relative to that of the other will cause said'shaft to rotate in one direction While an increase of the speed in the other-motor will cause the shaft to rotate in the opposite direction. The construction and operatlon of the differential gear means are substantially as shown and described in Figs. 7 and 8 of said patent to J. H. Reineke. According to said patent, means are further provided for effecting changes in the speed of one motor or the other according as' the pressure at the' point 7 in the flue rises above or falls below the desired pressure. Such means may be enclosed with the float chamber casing 14 and cover 15 and may comprise float means 100 adapted to be raised or lowered due to the raising or lowering of the fluid level 4in. the float chamber 101 under the influence of the pressure in flue 1, said pressure being communicated from said flue through pressure tube or pipe 17 to pressure chamber 102 with in casing 14. Pressure chamber 102 communicatcs at its lower end with float chamber 101, as at 103, so as to permit passage of 'liquid between said chambers, and a suitable amount of liquid, such as oil, is placed therein. Float 100 is connected by vertical rod 104 to contact lever 105, which is pivoted at 106 and is provided at its ends with contact members 107 and 108 adapted to cooperate rcspcctively with fixed contact members 109 and 110 to control connections in the electrical circuits of relays or electromagnets 111 and 112. The construction is such that if float 100 rises or falls from its equilibrium level, connection is established between conytherefrom so as to increase the speed of the corresponding motors. The means for accomplishing such short-circuiting of the resistances may comprise contact means 115 and 116 adapted to be controlled by electromagnets 111 and,112 aforesaid.

Operating shaft 13 is connected through friction clutch means indicated at 20 to the shaft 21 of damper 6. Said clutch means may comprise a pair of clutch members 22 and 23, the clutch member 22 being secured to shaft 13 for example by means of set screw 24 and clutch member 23 being secured to shaft 21 for example by means of set screw 25. A plurality of clutch devices for example balls 26 are provided in clutch member 22 adapted to cooperate with -suitable means such as recesses or hollows 27 in clutch member 23, and springs 28 may be provided for holding the balls 26 into engagement With suchrecesses. In order to permit the clutch device to engage in only one relative position of shafts 13 and 21, so that in operation the damper will always be in the same relation to the operating shaft 13 of the regulator, the several balls 26 and the correlea ius

three contactmembers 31, 32, and 33, adapti ed to engage contact members 34 and 35 mounted upon a suitable insulating support 36. Commutator ent 30 is preferably adjustable about the shaft 13 for example by means of set screws 37 and the position atl which the contact points 31 to 33 are adapted-to contacts 34 and 35 may also be adju making the contact plates 34 and 35 wedge shaped as shown in Fig. 4 and mounted upon screws 38 which are adapted to slide up and down in adjusting slots 39 in the insulating support 36. Wire 40 leads from contact member 34, and wire 41 leads from contact member 35, to the electric supply circuit 11 (she Fig. 2). From the contact points 31, 32, and 33, wires'42,

43, and 44 lead to a small reversible motor which is of such type that completion of the circuit through wires 42 and 43 causes the motor 'to rotate in one direction, while completion of the circuitthrough wires 43 and 44 causes it to rotate in the reverse direction. -Said motor is adapted to drive worm 46 which engages` worm wheel 47 mounted on shaft 48, upon wghich are also mounted the rheostat arms 49. Said arms make contactat their ends with the contact segments 50 of rheostat 51, which is connected by wires 51 to the rotor winding ofthe driving motor 3. Rotation of motor 45 in one direction or the'other is thus adapted to move the arms 49 so as to increase or de- `crease the effective resistance of rheostat 51 in the rotor winding of the fan motor 3 and thereby vary the speed of the fan 2.

I also prefer to provide means whereby the failure of the electric current will .cause the dampei` to be released' from engagement with the regulator and tov be moved 'to wide open position so as to prevent any injury to parts of thel apparatus which might result if the damper were. allowed to remain in closed orpartly closed position without` the regulating apparatus in operation, and also prevent loss of pressure due to partial constriction of the flue by the damper. `Such means may comprise a tripping arm 55 mounted on the damper shaft l21 or, as

, shown, on the clutch member 23 connected thereto. Said arm 55 may extend in any suitable direction, for example it may extend, as shown, parallel or substnntially'paralle] to the damper 6. A tripping lever 56 is' also provided which is loosely mounted about shaft 13 or shaft 21 for example'by means of a collar 57 loosely mounted about the hub ofclutch member 22 and held in position thereon for example by means of collar 5S keyed or otherwise secured to such member. The outer end of trip ing lever 56 is connected by a rope or ca le 59 passing over a l S11-em so to a trip ing weight-61 masia- Alever is also provi ed with a pin or; lug 62 adalpted to e the tripping arm 55 when sai lever is re eased and caused to` swing by 'the weight 61. In order to release the tripping lever 56'at the proper time a catch l member 64 may be provided, .pivotally mounted at 65 and provided 'at its outer end with a projecting ear 66 adapted to engage a pin orlug 67 on lever 56, and hold the lever in its normal or inoperative j' tion. Spring 68 is connected to ca tch mem r 64 inl such manner as to tend to move the same to but aiid member 64.is preent released position, vented from being so moved by e of a releasing linger 69 with the other end of member 64 as indicated at 70.v ,The releasinlg finger 69 is pivoted as at 71 and is pivotal y connected at- Aits' upper end to a plunger 72 which is connected to the core 73 of solenoid 74. Solenoid 74 is included in the electric circuit of the regulator motors,.or at any suitable point in the electric circuit, and

the arrangement is such that so long. as said solenoid remains energized plunger 72 is attracted andk releasing finger 69 is thereby held in position Ato engage catch member 64. Suitable means such as spring 75 vided however which 'act upon lunger 72 and opposethe action of lsolenoi j 74 so that upon de-energization of ,such solenoid the releasing finger 69 is moved to released position thereby itting catch member 64 to are prooperate to re ease tripping lever 56. It will 'I be understood of course that by providing a solenoid of suliicient size it could be made to directly release catch member 64, but -I prefer to employ the trigger mechanism above described, in order -to permit use of a smaller solenoid.

` Means are also provided for .causing the operation of shaft `13 by the regulator when the electric power is again applied to restore the tripping lever 56 to normal positionv and bring the damper back interengagement with said shaft. For this pur an arm 78 may be rigidl connected to s aft 13 or to the clutch mem r 22 thereon, said arm-being adapted to engage pin 62v on tripping` lever 56 to restore the same t0 normal position as hereinafter described. In order `to provide for the proper'operat-ion of the regulator when the elect-ric power is reapphpd I also provide certain electricall connections which are includedin the circuitsl for the regulator. Such electrical control means may comprise insulated contacts 79, 80, 81, and 82 mounted onclutch member 22, said contacts 8`O and .81 being mounted.'` on a leaf springmember 83; which tends by its spring action to hold Contact 81 in engagement with contact 82 as v Shown in Fig. 13. A ydownwardly projecting pin 84 is mounted 'on arm 86 on clutch. member 23, however, and is so positioned that when A tacts 87, 88,

clutch members 22 and 23 are in engaged position pin 84 engages the outer end, of spring member 83 and holds the same in position to cause contact member to engage contact member 79, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.' Another set of insulated con- 89, and 90, are provided adjacent releasin\ finger 69. Contacts 88 and 89 are mount/'d ona leaf spring member which normally holds contact 89 in engagement with contact 90. The arrangement is such however, that when releasing finger 69operates to release catch member 64, the lowerend otfinger 69 engages the end of spring member 85 and moves the same so as to bring contacts 87 and 88 into engagement. In order to hold the releasing member 69 in position to maintain closed connection between contacts 87 and 88 until the proper moment, in spite of re-energization of solenoids 74, the catch member .64 is provided with an arm or segment 92 which is adapted to engage linger 69 to hold the same in released position until the catch member 64 is restored to normal position to hold the tripping lever 56. Said catch member is also provided With an arm or finger 93 adapted to be engaged by pin 62 in the return movement of lever 5G to normal position so as `to move said catch member to position to hold said lever.

Referring particularly to Fig. 12, the controlling circuits for the two-motor regulator above described areshown as follows. From one of the line wires 11 wirev 119 leads to branch wires 120 and 12,1 which are connected respectively to contact 109 and to contacts 88 and 89. From contact member 107 wire 122 leads to contact 79. Contacts 80 and 87 are connected by wires 123 and 124 respectively and wire 125 to electromagnet 111. From contacts 82 and 90 wires 126 and 127 respectively lead 'to wire 128 which is in turn connected to contact 108.' Contact member 110 is connected by wire 129 and branch wires 130 and 131 respectively to contacts 81 and electromagnet 112. From the two electromagnets 111 and 112 respectively wires 132 and 133 lead to return Wire 134 which is connected to another line Wire 11.

The operation of the above described apparatus is ais follows:

The drivipg motor ,3 for fan 2 is set in operation forexample b y closing switch 95 and the electrically operated regulator is also set in operatiorf for example by closing switch 96, these switches serving to conneet the motor 3 and the regulator motors 9 and 10 to the line 11. The fan 2 is thus operated So as to cause the fluid which is in this case a gas, such s for example fuel gas, to pass through flue 1. The gas or other'fluid `may besuppled to 'the fan through flue 4 under pressure, forl example flue 4 may be connected to a gasometer at a gas works and fan 2, which is in that case called a booster fan., may be adapted to sup. ply the added pressure necessary to give the desired pressure in flue 1 which is connected to the distributing system.' The pressure at the point 7 in said flue. depends both upon the speed ot' 'lan 2 and upon the position of damper 6 as well-as upon the pressure in the gasometer and the rate of consumption of gas in the system, With the regulator set to maintain a certain pressure and with the fan 2 operating at approximately the proper speed to maintain such pressure, slight variations in the pressure at the point 7 will cause the regulator to operate through a change in the speed of one or the other of the motors 9 or 10 to move the damper toward closed or open position to bring the pressure back to the desired value.

For example if the pressure at 7 increases above. the desired value, float 100 rises, causing connection to be closed between contacts 107 and 109. The energizing circuit of electromagnet. 111 is thus completed through wires 119 and 120, contacts 109 and 107, wire 122, contacts 79 and 80, and wires 123, 125, 132, and 134, causing said electromagnet to close contact means 115, thus short-circuiting resistance means 113 and causing motor 9 to rotate at increased speed. 4The arrangement of' the differential gearing connecting the regulator motors to the operating shaft 13 is such that this increase in speed of motor 9 causes the damper to be moved toward closed position, and this movement is continued until the pressure is again reduced to the desired point when float 100 falls and breaks connection between contacts 109 and 107. Un the other hand a decrease in pressure causes connection to be closed between contacts 108 and 110 and current then passes through wires 119 and 121, contacts 89 and 90, wires 127 and 128, contacts 108 and 110, wires 129 and 131, electromagnet 112, and wires 133 and 134. Energization of electromagnet 112 results, in a similar manner in an increase in speed of motor .10, and a con` sequent opening movement of' the vdamper which continues until the equilibrium pressure is again restored. Small fluctuations in the pressure aresthus takenfcare of by operation of the damper without effecting the speed of the driving motor 3.

Damper 6 however is only permitted to 'move through a prescribed range for example through the angle indicated at AA in Fig. 1, and it' the movement of the damper within-this range is not suicient to effect the desired correction in the pressure, such change is effected by varying the speed of the drivingmotor 3. The manner in which this is accomplished may be understood by referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. For eX- ample l iff the pressure falls below the desired thespeedofmotor3andfan2 '35 and 41 to the line. Motor 45is4 Leagues beyond this position so that contact point 32 engages contact 35 and contact point 31 engages contact 34, thus com leting. the circuit of motor 45 as follows 2 and 3)`: From line 11 through wire 40, contacts 34 an d 31, andv wire 42 to the motor 45, and thence back through wi're43, 'contacts 32 and thereby energized and caused to rotate in such direction as to decrease the effective resistance of rheo'stat 51, thereby increasing soastoagain" esired bring the preure at 7 up to the'- d l value. As a matter of fact the pressureis first increased somewhat beyond the desired value in order to cause the regulator to operate tormo've the damper toward closed sition suiciently to break the connection E- tweenntacts 31 and 34 and 32 and 35, the pressure being thus brought back to the de'- Sired value and motor 45 being at the same time d'e-ener so as to leave the d'ivi motor 3 again running at constantspeed but at a somewhat greater speed than before.

If on the other handthe pressure at 7 becomes too great in spite of the movement f the damper tothe position indicated by line 52 the commutatoris operated to complete the other operating circuit for motor 45, that is to say a connection is closed be-` tween contacts 33 and 35 and between contacts 32 and 34.l 'Ehe circuit is now com-I pleted through wire 40, contacts 34 and 32, and wire 43 to motor 45 and thencethrough wire 44, contacts 33,and and wire 41 back tothe line. Motor 45 will therefore be caused to rotate in the reverse direction tothat above described and will o rate to in crease the effective resistance ofihetat 51 and thereby decrease the speed of motor 3 andfan 2. The preure is thus reduced to slightly below the desired value causing the damper 6 to be operated suciently toward open -position to bring it back within the' prcribed'zone of travel, thereby breaking the connection at the commutator and again placing the control of the fluid preure under the influence of the damper alone.

I n the above described manner small variations of pressure are corrected byoperation of the damper 6 within the limits as, and zz, while any sudden or large variations in the pressure requirements cause suchdamper to b'emoved under the y iniluence of said regulator slightly beyond one or the Vother of these limits thereby automatically causing the speed of the -fan to be decreased Y or suilcently to permit the desired rassure to be restored while causing the damper to be returned to aposition within the' prescribed zon By adjusting the wedge-sha contact members 34 and 35V up or downpindthe slots 39, the anglevthrough which shaft 13 must turn in order to cause contact between such members and the contact points 31 to 33 may be varied, thus varying the angleA through ywhich the damper 6 is permitted to turn without influencing the speed of fan l 2. Furthermore the re maintain any desi pressure, for exam le by raising or lowering the contact mec ai msm comprising contact lever 105 and contacts 107 to 110 with respect `to the normal liquid level in the float chamber, or by varying the total amount of liquid inthe iloat chamber and4 the pressure chamber. should be noted that the sett y of the regulator to maintain a giyen p a not only QOntrolsthe operation of the 'regulator but :ilse indirectly controls the adjustmentt of the In case the supply' of the electric current to the motors 9 and 10 of the regulator should fail from any cause whatever, solenoid 74 which .is included in the electrical suppl ciraluitfor such .nliotors l:Lleenergized t us releasing p unger 2 w `c is forced outward by spring 75 and o rates releasing finger 69 to'the\fposition in 'cated in dotted lines at 69' in. Fig. 9. Catch member 64 is thus released and is operated by spring 68 to a position such as indicated in: dotted lines at 64 in Fig. 7. l Lug-66 is thus moved out of e y 'ent with pin 67 on tripping lever 66 ana said lever is caused to swing by weight 61, the pin 62 on said lever engaging arm. in this movement. The

sudden force thus applied to arm 55 causes. the connectionto be broken between clutch members -22 and 23 due to the nesiliently supported balls 26 slipping out of or notches 27, and the tripping arm 55, damper lshaft 21, anddamper 6 are thus left free to turn independently of operating shaft 13. -Weight l'continues to swing the trip lever 56 to the position indicated at 56 a tripping arm 55 is thus brought tothe position indicated at 55', in Fig. 7. Since the arm 55 is shown as substantially parallel to the damper 6 it will be seen that this operation brings said 'damper to a position parallel to the length of liuc 1 or to wide-open position. This prevents any damage to any parts of the system for example in]ury to the flue orto the fan due to excessive pres-l` sure which might result 'if the damper were allowed to remain in partly closed position l with the regulator inoperative due to power failure. Furthermore, in pase thea paratus is used-in connection with the supp y of gas to a distributing system from a gasometer at a gas works as above described, and the electric power fails completely, both. motor 3 andthe regulator will be disabled, and it is therefore of great 'advantage to have the ator may be set to` open--position causes arm 86 to be moved in a clockwise direction to the position indicated in Fig. 13 and at 86 in Fig. 7. This brin s pin 84 out of engagement with spring mem er 83, permitting said spring member to operate to break connection between contacts 79 and 80 and close connection between contacts 81 and 82, as shown in Fig 13.

The manner in which the device operates to restore the damper to operative positionV upon re-establishment of the operating circuits for the regulator is as follows:

The contact, devices being in the position shown in Fig. 13, a circuit is first established from the line 11 through wires 119` and 121, contact members 88 and 87, Wires 124 and 125, electro-magnet 111, and wires 132 and 134 back to the line. Motor 9 is thus cau:ed to rotate at increased speed so as to rotate the operating shaft 13 in`counter clock-wise direction as indicated at 97 in Fig. 7, that is in the direction which would normally tend to close the damper. The damper is not moved in this operation, however, due to the disengagement of the clutch means between the operating shaft 13 and the damper shaft 21. In the rotation of theoperating shaft in this direction, however, arm 78 engages pin 62 on tripping lever 56Uand carries this lever around with it to the normal position of the lever, leaving arm in its position parallgl to the length of the flue. Lever 56 inmoving back to its normal position will engage linger 93 on catch member 64 and re- Store said catch member to normal position, thuscausing the other end of cat-ch member 64 to pass beyond the releasing finger 69vso as to permit plunger 72 to be attracted by solenoid 74, which is now energized due to the energization of the regulator operating circuit. This will in turn cause releasing finger 69 to be restored to normal position to engage catch member 64 and hold the same in position to again retain the tripping lever 56 in normal or inoperative position. This movement of releasing finger 69 also release.;

spring contact. member 85 so as to break eonnection between contact members 87 and 88 and restore connection between contact members 89 and 90. The circuit controllingthe speed of motor 9 is thus broken at this point, while at the same time the corresponding circuit is completed for motor 1Q as follows. Through wires 119 and 121, contact members 89 and 90, wires 127 and 126, contact members 82 and 81, wires 130 and 131, electromagnet 112 and wires133 and 134.` The speed of moto-r 10 is thus increased while motor 9 runs at normal speed and operating shaft 13 is thus caused to rotate inthe reverse r clock-wise direction. This rotation continues until the operating shaft reaches its normal position with respect to the damper shaft at which time the clutch deand moves the same to position to break connection between contacts 81 and 82 and close connection between contacts 79 and 80. lt should be noted in this connection that the clutch ball; 26 and sockets 27 may be so formed as to cause the clutch tosnap into position thus giving a quick throw to the spring Contact member 83 and ensuring positive operation of the contact members controlled thereby. The damper is thus placed in operative connection with the operating shaft 13 so vas to be again under. control of the regulator and the entiresystem is thus restored to its original condition so as to operate as above described to maintain the desired pressure in the Hue.

.Many other types of regulators may be employed to operate the damper .in connection with my invention. For example as shown in Fig. 14 I may use a regulator comprising a single electrical motor 140 connected through gearing indicated at 141 to the operating' shaft 13 which is-V connectedas before through ysuitable clutch means for example as above described to the damper shaft 21. Motor 140 is of the reversible type and is adapted to rotate in one direction Vor the other upon the establishment of one or the other of the two operating circuits 142 and 143. Circuit 142 includes contact means 144 adapted to be cloied upon energization of electro-magnet 145 due to'closing of contact means 107 and 109 which occurs as before upon raising of the float 100. Circuit 143 includes similar contact means 146 adapted lto be closed by electromagnet 147 which is energized upon closing of contact means A108 and 110 due lto lowering of'float 100. Said operating circuits 142 and 143 are. connected to motor 140 so as to provide a different phase relation upon completion of the respective circuits. the relation being said motor to rotatein the reverse direc' tionl and move the Adamper toward open position. y

Float control means and electrical control vpermit the damper to return withinrits. zone of travel.

The operation of this form of the inven tion will readily understood from the above description, -an increasejn pressure se to cause motor 140 to move the damper toward closed position and a de-` crease in pressure operating to move the damper toward open position. Motion of the danviser beyond the desired limits oftravel l as before cause' a change in the of the fan motor 3 so as to permitthe esired pressure to be maintained and at Y the same time permit the' damper to remain within the desired zone of travel. Furthermore, as before, failure of the electric current will-cause the damper to be released, and the subsequentviestablishment of the circuit will cause the, regulator 'to operate, with the aid of the contact means above described, -to restore .the tripping means to normal position and cause the clutchmeans between the operating shaft and damper, shaft to be The invention is not limited to application in connection with electricallyoperated regulators but may also be used in connectionr with mechanical regulators, for example, regulators operated by water, steam, air, or other fluid pressure. The apparatus shown in Figs. 15 to 18 inclusive illustrates -the fluid may escape from either end of ,cylinder 153 which is in communication with a regillator of this type. The operating shaft for the damper 6 is shown as connected by means of crank arm 150 and co`nnectmg rod 151 to a n 152 working in cylinder 153. Said piston is adapted to be -moved in one direction orthe other in said cylinder upon a plication of fluid preure to one side or t e other thereof and hence l cause opening and closing movement of damper 6. Y For this purpose valve 154 may be provided, comprising `a plunger 155 having two valve pistons 156 and 157, adapted to control communication betweenvinlet port 158 and outlet .ports 159 'and 160, and pasages 161 and 162 communicating with the lnterior of cylinder 153 at the respective ends thereof. Plunger l155 may be adapted to be pulled in one direction or thc other upon energization of one or the other ofthe e ectromagnets 163 and 164, suitable springs 165 being provided for returning the plunger to neutral or inoperative position as indicatedjn Fig. 16 when the electromagnets are de-energized. Electromagnet 164 may be, connected in circuit with Contact `infinis 107 and 109 by means of wires 166, 167, and

- 168 and electromagnet 163 may be connected control the energization of elect-romagnets 163 and 164 and hence control the operationof the regulator. Shaft 13 may as before be. provided with contact segment having contacts 31, 32,A and 33 adapted to cooperate with contacts 34 and 35 to cause operation of the motor controlling the fan motor rheostat as above-described, when the damper reaches either limits of its dea sired travel.

- In operation, if the pressure increases above the desired point connection will be closed between contact members 107 and 109 and electromagnet 164 will be energized and attract plunger 155 to such position as to establish communication between inlet port 158 and paage 152 and' between passage 151 andoutlet port v159. Inlet port'158 may be connected to any suitable source of fluid pressure, for example, to a source of -watf-,r supply and uponV movement ofthe plunger as above vdescribed such fluid pressure will be admitted through pa'age 152 to the left end of cylinder 153 and cause piston 152 to be operatedso as to move damper 6 towards closed position and restore the preure to the desired point. Reduction in pressure will cause movement of the valve in the reverse direction so as to cause reverse movement of piston 152 Aand hence open the damper. It willfbe understood that the outlet pi 159 and 160 are adapted to permit free digscharge of fluid therethrough soV that moving device. In the case of maintainingI a vacuum, the fluid. moving device may be an exhausting fan drawing air, gas, or Vother luid through ac flue or from a chamber and the ilow controlling device is inY such case preferably located before the fan, the system being adapted to maintain a .constant vacuum-at a point either before the dow controlling device or such device vplaced either-after or before'the. fan or'luid tive or negative) or a certain volume flow,

or for any other purpose.

The use of the above described invention is of particular advantage in cases where considerable variations are apt to occur in the demand or consumption ot' gas or other fluid and in which a constant pressure is to be maintained regardless of the demand. An example of thisis in the supply ot' Jt'uel or illuminating gas to the distributing system of large gas companies. In this case the consumption vaiies to a marked degree, and if constant pressure regulation is maintained by operation of a damper or valve alone, the fan must be kept in operation at a speed sufficient to take care of the maximum consumption, and at times of' low demandthe damper will be held in nearly closed position. This obviously means wasted energy in driving the fan at unnecessarily high speed. On the other hand it is impracticable to provide for continually chan ing the Speed of the fan to correct smal variations in pressure. By means of my invention the small variations may be smoothed out by operation of the damper, with thefan running at approximately the speed required, while large fluctuations cause the fan speed to be automatically adjusted. v

I claim:

1. An apparatus for fluid pressure regulation comprising in combination with means defining a fluidl passage, fluid moving means adapted to produce flow of fluid in said passage, variable speed driving means for' said fluid moving means, a flow controlling device situated in said passage, a regulat`.

ing device operatively connected to said flow controlling device and provided with control means connected to said passage so as to be responsive to variations in pressure therein, speed controlling means for said variable speed driving means and means operatively connected to said flow controlling means for controlling the operation of said speed controlling means, whereby movement of sucli flow controlling means beyond a prescribed position is adapted to cause operation of said speed controlling means.

2. Ali-apparatus for fluid pressure regulation comprising in cfimbinationvwitli means' defining a fluid passage,lluid moving means adapted to produce flow of fluid 1n said passage, variable speed driving means for said fluid moving means, flow controlling means' in said passage, a regulating device responsive to variations in pressure conditions in said passage and connected to said flow con trolling means to operate the same to cornepaese rect sucli variations in pressure conditions and speed control means operable to change the speed of said variable speed driving means upon movement of the flow controlling means beyond a certain position.

3. An apparatus for fluid pressure regulation comprising in combination with means defining a fluid passage, fluid moving means adapted to produce flow of fluid in said "passage, a variable speed electric motor connected to drive said fluid moving means, electrically operated means for controlling the speed of said electric motor, flow con` trolling means in said passage, automatic pressure regulating means connected to operate said flow controlling means to maintain a constant pressure in said passage, an electric circuit for controlling said speed controlling means for the electric motor, and contact means included in said electric circuit aiid operable to close said circuit and effect operation of vsaid speed controlling means upon movement of said flow controlling means beyond a certain position.

4. In combination with means defining a fluid passage and an automatically operated flow controlling device therein, fluid moving means adapted t'o produce flow of fluid in said passage, and means for varying the fluid moving power of said fluid moving means when said flow controlling -device moves beyond a certainposition.

5. In an apparatus for fluid pressure regulation, a flow controlling device, automatic' regulating means therefor, a fluid moving device, variable speed driving means therefor,

and means whereby movement of said flow controlling device beyond a certain position causes a change in speed of said driving means.

6. In an apparatus for fluid pressure regulation, a flow-controlling device, a regulator, releasable clutch means connecting said regulator to said flow controlling device, a source of motive power for said regulator, and means operable upon the failure of said source of motive power and adapted to release said clutch means and move said flow controlling device to av position of substantially maximum opening.

7. In an apparatus for fluid pressure regulation, a flow controlling device, an electrically operated regulator, releasable clutch means connecting said regulator to said flow controlling device, tripping means operable to release said clutch means and move said flow controlling device to a position of substantially maximum opening, means for normally holding said tripping means from so operating, electric operating circuit means for said regulator, electromagnetic means included in said electric means, and means cooperating With said electromagnetic means and operable upon deenergization thereof due to failure of the current in said electric .circuit to release said holding means and perand comprising in addition electrical control circuits for said regulator and contact means 'associated therewith and operable upon operation of said holding and tripping means to place such circuits 1n condition so that upon re-establishment of the crrent in the L operatingrcircuit means said regulator op- .10

erates to restore the h olding and tripping means to normal (positlon and to effect reengagement ofsai clutch means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my June, 1925.

FLOYD H. VIEIS;

name this twenty-fifthday of 16 

